Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 6:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.

The Attalla City Board of Education has given Superintendent David Bowman a four-year contract extension.

Bowman, 52, was named to the post in January 2012. His initial contract was for two years and five months. The board's move extends the contract until June 30, 2018.

The board approved the extension at a previous meeting and on Thursday approved amendments to bring the contract into board policy.

Board President Gary Huff said in an interview after Thursday's meeting that the board is pleased with the system's progress under Bowman.

“We wanted to see some consistency in our school system, and Mr. Bowman has done a great job in his first year,” he said, “and we felt like it would be good for the consistency to keep him there for quite a few more years.”

Bowman in an interview noted he is the first graduate of Etowah High School to serve as the system's superintendent.

He said when he was named to the post, the system was $200,000 short of having one month's operating expenses in reserve and needed to upgrade technology.

“I think we've come a long way as far as that goes,” Bowman said.

He said the system has the one month's operating expenses back in reserve. It has just installed two new computer labs at Etowah High and is adding a second lab at Attalla Elementary School (it and Etowah Middle School currently have one each).

“We've got some good things going in the right direction there,” Bowman said, adding that the school board and the City Council are working well together.

The changes in the contract include paying Bowman for any vacation and leave time not used annually, which is in line with board policy.

He is given three weeks' vacation a year.

Bowman's salary under his current contract is $104,000 annually. Huff said the extension doesn't change that, but Bowman will receive salary increases as other employees do from the state.

Bowman has been with the Attalla system for 26 years. He served as director of general services, which included managing transportation, the Child Nutrition Program, career technical eduction and maintenance.

Chief Financial Officer Cody Patterson informed the board that school officials at a recent conference were told that unless a resolution to the federal budget standoff is reached by March 26, all systems will lose much of their federal funding.

He said that would mean $300,000 to $400,000 in cuts to the Attalla system, primarily in Title 1 and special education funding, which are the largest areas of federal reimbursement.

“Every employee we are paying out of federal funds, we would have to shift them over to the general fund,” Patterson said.

Board member Preston Nix said members should contact Alabama's senators and representatives about the funding issue.

<p>The Attalla City Board of Education has given Superintendent David Bowman a four-year contract extension.</p><p>Bowman, 52, was named to the post in January 2012. His initial contract was for two years and five months. The board's move extends the contract until June 30, 2018.</p><p>The board approved the extension at a previous meeting and on Thursday approved amendments to bring the contract into board policy.</p><p>Board President Gary Huff said in an interview after Thursday's meeting that the board is pleased with the system's progress under Bowman.</p><p>“We wanted to see some consistency in our school system, and Mr. Bowman has done a great job in his first year,” he said, “and we felt like it would be good for the consistency to keep him there for quite a few more years.”</p><p>Bowman in an interview noted he is the first graduate of Etowah High School to serve as the system's superintendent.</p><p>He said when he was named to the post, the system was $200,000 short of having one month's operating expenses in reserve and needed to upgrade technology.</p><p>“I think we've come a long way as far as that goes,” Bowman said.</p><p>He said the system has the one month's operating expenses back in reserve. It has just installed two new computer labs at Etowah High and is adding a second lab at Attalla Elementary School (it and Etowah Middle School currently have one each).</p><p>“We've got some good things going in the right direction there,” Bowman said, adding that the school board and the City Council are working well together.</p><p>The changes in the contract include paying Bowman for any vacation and leave time not used annually, which is in line with board policy.</p><p>He is given three weeks' vacation a year.</p><p>Bowman's salary under his current contract is $104,000 annually. Huff said the extension doesn't change that, but Bowman will receive salary increases as other employees do from the state.</p><p>Bowman has been with the Attalla system for 26 years. He served as director of general services, which included managing transportation, the Child Nutrition Program, career technical eduction and maintenance.</p><p>Chief Financial Officer Cody Patterson informed the board that school officials at a recent conference were told that unless a resolution to the federal budget standoff is reached by March 26, all systems will lose much of their federal funding.</p><p>He said that would mean $300,000 to $400,000 in cuts to the Attalla system, primarily in Title 1 and special education funding, which are the largest areas of federal reimbursement.</p><p>“Every employee we are paying out of federal funds, we would have to shift them over to the general fund,” Patterson said.</p><p>Board member Preston Nix said members should contact Alabama's senators and representatives about the funding issue.</p><p>“This is going to be serious,” he said.</p>